Ogunbunmi Earns Podium Finish in First Decathlon Performance

Friday, April 12

La Verne, Calif.

University of Houston

Leopard Distance Carnival

Ayomide Ogunbunmi Cameron Burrell Invitational

Photo by: Joe Buvid For Houston Athletics

Ogunbunmi Earns Podium Finish in First Decathlon Performance

4/12/2024 10:43:00 PM | Track and Field

Multi-athlete Ayomide Ogunbunmi grabs third in decathlon, Branch Cox sets personal best in 5,000-meter

By: Colton Merritt

AZUSA, LA VERNE, Calif., and GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Senior Ayomide Ogunbunmi reached the podium in his first decathlon competition at the Bryan Clay Invitational at Cougar Stadium and senior Branch Cox set a personal best in the 5,000-meter at the Leopard Distance Carnival at Ortmayer Stadium on Friday.

Multi-athlete Ogunbunmi claimed third in the decathlon with 6,785 points. To start the second day of the event, Ogunbunmi set a personal best in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 15.55. In total, the senior set four personal bests in his first decathlon and first multi-event since the heptathlon at the Big 12 Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships.

Junior multi-athlete Charlie O'Block finished his first decathlon with 5,791 points to finish 11^th. O'Block set two more personal bests including 15.87 in the 110-meter hurdles and 32.06 (105'-2) meters in the discus throw to total four at the meet.

At the Leopard Distance Carnival, Cox ran the 5,000 meters in a personal-best time of 14:48.89, his first 5k under the 15-minute mark. Cox placed 32^nd out of 113 finishers in the event.

Three Cougars saw action in the first day of the Tom Jones Invitational. Graduate Sydni Townsend ran in the 400-meter hurdles invite, crossing the line at 56.80 to win her heat. Townsend would finish eighth among the 30 participants.

In the 200-meter invite, freshman Michaela Mouton ran a time of 23.58, the third-fastest time in her heat.

Senior Iman Babineaux finished with a time of 24.54 in the 200-meter dash.

SATURDAY SCHEDULE (CT) – HOUSTON

TOM JONES INVITATIONAL
11:30 a.m. – Men's 110m hurdles invite prelims
12:45 p.m. – Men's 4x100m
1 p.m. – Women's 800m
1:55 p.m. – Women's 400m invite
2:10 p.m. – 110m hurdles invite final
4:10 p.m. – Men's 100m
5:10 p.m. – Women's 4x400m

BRYAN CLAY INVITATIONAL
9 p.m. – Men's 1500m open B

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